Children&#39;s play area sunshade canopy

ABSTRACT

A demountable wind-resistant sun shade canopy for shading children&#39;s play areas or other actively used areas having a first perimeter. the canopy cover, being removably secured over a metal support structure, is comprised of vertical columns upon which are mounted at the upper end thereof, respectively, uniquely configured bracket fittings, each bracket fitting providing secure mounting for a cantilever beam extending outwardly toward a second perimeter of the area to be shaded, and providing a secure mounting for a hip beam extending upward and toward the inner portion of the area to be shaded. The canopy forms a second perimeter which extends beyond the perimeter of the first perimeter, of the play area, to extend the shade cover the play area.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a Continuation-in Part of co-pending application Ser. No. 09/960,483 filed on Sep. 24, 2001.

STATEMENT REGARDING FED SPONSORED R & D

[0002] (none)

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The invention at hand relates generally to a demountable sunshade canopy structure and in particular sunshade canopies for ultraviolet (UV) sun ray protection of children's play area.

[0004] It is increasingly acknowledged that physically challenging outdoor play structures are a of benefit to the physical and emotional development of young children. A code of safety specifications for the construction and maintenance of children's play structures has been developed by National Play and Playground Authorities, published (1996) by the National Recreation and Park Association of Arlington, Va. These construction specifications describe construction features for support of children slides, swings, climbing apparatus, etc. which minimize risk of injury to children engaged in all manner of predictable use and misuse of the play structures.

[0005] The specification require that the play structures be mounted on a platform or on towers elevated up to six feet above a resilient (non-hardened) surface such as cork or rubber panels. and the towers or platform be supported by a very limited number of support columns. The columns are to capped at the top without exterior fittings on which a child may be injured while climbing upon or falling from the platform or tower. The support columns are capped at the top to discourage a child from climbing or holding on while suspended from the column top. The vertical support columns have been in the past a source of injuries to children engaged in unintended use of these structures. Accordingly, the minimum number of vertical columns, all free of hand- or foot holds, has become a specification for acceptable safe design.

[0006] Separate from the safe construction design referred to above which have and are significantly reducing playground injuries there is a growing threat to children's health when they are engaged in outdoor play and exercise in the sun shine.

[0007] The earth's protective atmosphere ozone layer has been significantly depleted due to release of chemical pollutants into the atmosphere during the last five decades. The result of the ozone depletion is that the solar ultraviolet (UV) rays are significantly more intense and comprise a serious health risk to children without protection when playing in the now unfiltered UV sun radiation.

[0008] In 1930 the risk of developing melanoma form sun exposure was 1 in 1500 people. Today, a person's risk of developing skin cancer at some time during their life is 1 in 75. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States each year with than one million new cases diagnosed each year. Currently this year, 47,700 Americans will be diagnosed with life threatening melanoma and 7,700 will die of this disease. The current prognosis for this disease is that approximately 1 out o 5 children in the United States will experience some form of skin cancer during their lifetime. Furthermore, exposure to the current intensity of solar UV radiation reduces the effectiveness of the immune system. This effect is of special importance in children's health.

[0009] Sources of the above statistics are to be found in publications of the American Academy of Dermatology, American Cancer Society, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Center for Disease Control and Protection and the Australian Cancer Society.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0010] It is a first object of the invention to provide a sturdy, wind resistant demountable canopy structure suitable for shading a children's play area from direct rays of the sun

[0011] Another object of the invention is to provide a sturdy, wind resistance, demountable sun shade canopy for mounting on vertical support columns as used in children's standard safe outdoor play structures. The sunshade shade canopy structure as described herein, is in full compliance with recommended safety specifications for children's play areas.

[0012] Still another object this invention is to provide a sturdy, wind resistant, demountable sun shade canopy design adaptable to retrofit existing small area and extended children's play areas installations with effective sun shade protection.

[0013] Still another object is to extend the shade area beyond the basic play area perimeter so that the canopy covers slanted sun rays prior to reaching any activity of the play area perimeter under the shade cover. This kind of coverage of the canopy protects any kind of sun rays encountered in early morning activities or late afternoon play activities because the canopy extends over the basic perimeter of the play area.

[0014] These and other objects and advantages and diverse uses of this invention will be apparent from consideration of the following illustration, specifications and claims.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0015] A demountable, wind resistant sun shade canopy suitable for mounting on a limited number of vertical columns, erected for the purpose of, or suitable for mounting on, extensions of a limited number of standard safe play area support columns. The canopy support structure, comprised of a plurality of uniquely shaped brackets which, when each is fixedly mounted provides at each column a mount for a cantilever beam extending outwardly toward the perimeter of the area to be shaded, and simultaneously provides for the mounting of a hip beam extending toward the inner portion of the area to be shaded. Thus an extended-area to be shaded is a rigid support structure which is provided over a designated are which may be dependably shaded from the sun rays when a high density knitted polyethylene porous canopy cover is placed over the unique bracket supported plurality of cantilever and hip beam support members and secured about the perimeter of the canopy cover with an adjustable tension means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of an existing safe play structure without sun without sun protection, the play structure is shown mounted above a resilient ground cover;

[0017]FIG. 2 is a cross-section of the upper portion of support taken along the plane 2-2;

[0018]FIG. 3 is a plane view of a specified safe design single tower children's play area on which the innovative sun shade canopy has been erected, the play exercise devices are shown in phantom lines. From this illustration it can be seem that the perimeter of the shaded area extends beyond the basic area of the play area perimeter.

[0019]FIG. 4 is a sectional elevational view of the embodiment of this invention shown in FIG. 3 with portions of the play structure and canopy support members shown in phantom.

[0020]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a construction bracket for mounting cantilever beam and hip beam members to form a support structure for mounting the canopy cover.

[0021]FIG. 6 is a cross-section of the construction bracket shown in FIG. 6, taken on the plane 6-6

[0022]FIG. 7 is a plane view of the connector for a four hip beam canopy support construction shown in the embodiment of the sun shade canopy illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0023]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the of the hip beam connector illustrated in in FIG. 7.

[0024]FIG. 9 shows a detail of means for fastening the canopy cover to the support structure with adjustable tension means.

[0025]FIG. 10 shows an elevation of an extended end of the cantilever member showing means for securing the canopy cover.

[0026]FIG. 11 is an elevation view of a second embodiment of the sun shade canopy structure mounted to cover a two tower specified safe children's play area.

[0027]FIG. 12 is a plane view of the embodiment of the sun shade canopy shown in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11. The children's play area devices are shown in phantom.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028]FIG. 1 illustrates a safe design of a children's play structure wherein a plurality of fixedly mounted vertical columns 12 a, 12 b, 12 c, and 12 d are shown. The columns 12 a, 12 b, etc. are mounted in foundations (not shown) beneath a resilient ground cover 14. The ground cover may be made of rubber or cork or matted materials to soften impact and reduce injuries to a child fallen thereon. The columns support a platform a platform 16 from which a slide 18, a closed chute 20 and other children's climbing devices may be positioned.

[0029] The upper ends of conventionally designed vertical columns 12 a, 12 b, 12 cand 12 d are shown in FIG. 2 in a cross-sectional plane 2-2. A column cap 22 fits over the top of the column 12 d. The cap 22 is shaped with a reduced diameter lower section 24 which, when inserted into the hollow opening 26 of the vertical column comprises a secure mount for the column cap. Although such conventionally designed columns are fully compatible with invention, in order to avoid the possibility of rainwater leaking into the seam between lower portion 24 and column 12 d, it is preferable to have the columns designed as depicted in FIG. 6 where the upper end of column 12 a and 12 b etc. has a smaller diameter than bracket 52 so that rainwater will flow over the juncture between the two without entering the seam.

[0030]FIGS. 1 and 2 are illustrative of safe children's play structures in compliance with the safety specifications developed by the National Play and Playground Authorities. At his date there are tens of thousands of such play structures erected and being erected in the United States without any provisions for effective sun shades for children using such structures.

[0031] A plan view of a first embodiment of this invention is shown in FIG. 3 wherein a canopy cover 30 is shown as being supported over structural members described below which in turn are mounted above a children's exercise and play devices are shown in phantom lines below the canopy 30.

[0032]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional elevation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 on plane 4-4. Vertical column 34 and 36 are fixedly mounted, respectively, in concrete foundation footings 40 and 42. The vertical columns support a platform or deck 44 at the ends of the platform at 44a and 44b fastened to the columns 34 and 36. The columns 34 and 36 terminate at approximately four feet above the platform or deck 44. Caps 22 such as shown in FIG. 2 have been removed from the upper column portion 60 and 62 of the columns 34 and 36 exposing the tops 48 and 50, respectively, of columns 34 and 36, respectively. Structural bracket fittings 55 and 57 have lower ends 56 and 58 which fit over the top 48 and 50 of columns 48 and 50 of columns 34 and 36. A illustrates a drop line from the outer perimeter of the canopy to the ground, while the lines B illustrate the distance between the outer or second perimeter of the canopy and the first perimeter of the play area.

[0033]FIGS. 5 and 6 are illustrative of the structural brackets fittings 55 and 57, more specifically, FIG. 5 depicts bracket 55 in a perspective cut-away and fragmentary view, while FIG. 6 is a view of the structural bracket 55 shown as cross-section on plane 6-6 . In preferred embodiments, the lower portion 56 of structural bracket 55 fits over the reduced diameter upper end 52 of the upper column portion 60. In rainy weather, water will flow over the juncture of lower portion 56 and upper end 52 and will not enter the seam where it might cause damage.

[0034] The upper end of the bracket is terminated with a transverse angularly mounted cylindrical rod 64. The rod 64 is mounted at an acute angle with the vertical cylinder extension. The angle with the horizontal is normally 22 degrees but is subject to adjustments for specific applications.

[0035]FIGS. 5 and 6 show the mounting of the cylindrical rod 64 on a plate which in turn is mounted at an angle from the horizontal to bracket 55. The cylindrical rod 64 has an upper or first end 68, and a lower, or second end 70. Hip beam 72 comprises a straight section of a hollow metal steel pipe or rod. The hip beam 72 is positioned over the upper, or first end 68, of the angle mounted cylindrical rod 64 and secured with threaded bolts 76 passed through the hip beam 72 and the cylindrical 64.

[0036] The lower or second end 70 of the solid metal rod 64 is mounted over a cantilever beam 80 comprised of a straight section of hollow steel pipe at its upper end and secured with threaded means 81. The lower end of the cantilever beam is terminated with an oblong eyelet connector 84. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the four hip beams 72, 74 and the counter parts 72 a, 74 a terminate in juxtaposition and are secured together with a right angle joint 86.

[0037] Referring now back to FIG. 3, a porous knitted polyethylene canopy cover 30 is placed over the structure comprised of the hip beam members 72, 72 a, 74, 74 a, and cantilever beam members 80, 80 a, 82, and 82 a. The canopy details are more clearly shown in FIG. 9. The canopy cover 30 is secured about its perimeter with a tension cable 90 which in turn is secured within a cable channel 92 sewn about the canopy perimeter 94. The tension on the cable is adjusted and maintained with a turn buckle 96. The canopy cover 39 is provided at its four corners with a reinforced opening 98 through which the oblong connector 84 located on the extreme end of the cantilevered beam 80 and its counterpart cantilever beams 80 and its counterpart 82, etc. protrudes.

[0038] A second embodiment of this invention is illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12 wherein a two-tower safe design children's play area is shown. The play and exercise devices are shown in phantom lines. A porous shade canopy 104 is fabricated from knitted polyethylene strips and is constructed similarly to the single tower canopy 30. The two tower canopy cover 104 is sewn so that it provides a cable channel 106. A tension cable 108 is threaded through the channel 106 and when positioned over the metal support structure of hip beams 110 a, 110 b, 110 c, etc. ridge beam 112 and cantilever beams 114 a, 114 b, 114 c, etc. forms a sunshade canopy. A turn buckle tension means 116 is attached to the ends of cable 108 to provide adjustments and to maintain cable tension.

[0039] The canopy cover 104 is provided at each corner with a reinforced opening 98 as shown in FIG. 9, through which the oblong eyelet connector 84 on the cantilever beam extends.

[0040] From all of the above it can now be seen that the canopy is designed in such a way that the perimeter of the canopy is extended way over the perimeter of the play area. This is so in that the shading area of the play area will still be extended in the early mornings or later in the afternoon because at these times the sun rays are coming into the play area in quite a slanted direction and yet, the children will be protected from any direct sun rays. 

What is being claimed is:
 1. A shading canopy over a children's play area, said play area having a certain sized first perimeter, A canopy mounted over said play area, said canopy having a certain sized second perimeter, said second perimeter being of a substantially larger size than said first perimeter.
 2. The shading canopy of claim 1, wherein said canopy is supported by vertical support columns, an angularly directed from the horizontal bracket is each attached to a top of each of said columns, a hip beam is connected to each of said brackets and is directed upwardly, a cantilever beam is attached to each of said brackets and directed downwardly, said cantilever beams are extended beyond said play area perimeter.
 3. The shading canopy of claim 2, wherein said canopy is placed over said hip beams and said cantilever beams.
 4. The shading canopy of claim 1 including a playing platform suspended by and between said vertical columns and being of a size of said first perimeter
 5. A children's play structure comprising: a plurality of support columns; a platform coupled to and supported by said plurality of support columns, said platform defining an outer edge; a plurality children's play devices associated with said platform, said platform and said plurality of children's play devices cooperating to define a play area, and a sunshade canopy supported support by said plurality of said columns, aid sunshine canopy extending beyond said outer edge to shade said play area.
 6. The children's play structure of claim 5, wherein said sunshade canopy further comprises: a plurality of beams for supporting said canopy; a plurality of connector brackets for mounting said plurality of beams to said plurality of support columns, respectively.
 7. The children's play structure as recited in claim 6, wherein said plurality of beams are secured to said to said plurality of connector brackets such that the plurality of beams are angled relative to said plurality of support columns.
 8. The children's play structure as recited in claim 6, wherein said plurality of beams comprise a plurality of cantilever beams coupled to said plurality of said brackets, respectively, and extending generally downwardly therefrom.
 9. The children's play structure as recited in claim 7, wherein said plurality of beams comprise a plurality of cantilever beams coupled to said plurality of said brackets, respectively, and extending generally downwardly therefrom.
 10. The children's play structure as recited in claim 6, wherein said plurality of beams comprise a plurality of hip beams coupled to said plurality of brackets and extend generally upwardly therefrom.
 11. The children's play structure as recited in claim 8, wherein said plurality of beams comprise a plurality of hip beams coupled to said plurality of brackets, respectively, and extending generally upwardly therefrom.
 12. The children's play structure of claim 6, wherein said plurality of beams comprise a first plurality of beams comprising ends that converge at a first position and a second plurality of beams comprising ends that converge at a second position, said plurality of beams further comprising a ridge beam extending between said first and said second positions.
 13. A sunshade canopy system for mounting over and onto a children's play structure comprising a plurality of support columns, a platform coupled to and supported by said plurality of support columns, said platform defining an outer edge, a plurality of children's play devices associated with said platform and extending generally away from the outer edge and cooperating with said platform to define a play area, said sunshade canopy system comprising: a plurality of connector brackets for mounting to said plurality of support columns, respectively; a plurality of beams coupled to said plurality of connector brackets; and a canopy mounted on said plurality of beams to provide shade to said play area, wherein said canopy has a first perimeter and said play area has a second perimeter, wherein further said first perimeter extends beyond said second perimeter to increase the shading area above said second perimeter.
 14. The children's play structure as recited in claim 5, wherein said plurality of connector brackets are permanently secured to said plurality of beams.
 15. The children's play structure as recited in claim 5, wherein each of said plurality of connector brackets comprises a vertical member for mounting on one of said plurality of said vertical support columns and an angled member for securing to said plurality of beams.
 16. The children's play structure of claim 5, wherein said plurality of connector brackets comprises a vertical member for mounting on one of said plurality of vertical support columns and an angled member for coupling a plurality of said plurality of beams together such that said plurality of beams are situated at an angle relative to said plurality of said vertical support columns when said plurality of connector brackets are mounted on said vertical support columns and said plurality of beams are connected thereto.
 17. The children's play structure of claim 1, wherein said vertical member comprises a rod for receiving said ends.
 18. The children's play structure of claim, wherein said rod comprising ends that are tubular and dimensioned to mate with and join two of said plurality of beams together.
 19. The children's play structure of claim 17, wherein said rod comprises ends that are tubular and dimensioned to mate with and join two of said plurality of beams together,
 20. The children's play structure of claim 5, wherein said plurality of beams comprises at least one cantilever beam and at least one hip beam; at least one of said plurality of said connector brackets comprising a coupling for securing an end of said at least one hip beam, said at least one of said plurality of connector brackets causing said at least one hip beam and said at least one cantilever beam to combine at an angle.
 21. The children's play structure of claim 5, wherein said angle is about 22 degrees.
 22. A sunshade canopy system for mounting onto a children's play structure comprising a plurality of support columns, a platform coupled to and supported by said plurality of said support columns, said platform defining an outer edge; a plurality of children's play devices associated with said platform and extending generally away from the outer edge and cooperating with said platform to define a play area; said sunshine canopy system comprising: a plurality of connector brackets for mounting to said plurality of support columns, respectively; a plurality of beams coupled to said plurality of connector brackets and a canopy mounted on said plurality of beams to provide shade to said play area.
 23. The sunshade canopy system of claim 22, wherein when said plurality of beams are detachably secured to said plurality of connector brackets, said plurality of beams are angled relative to said plurality of said vertical support columns.
 24. The sunshade canopy system of claim 22, wherein said plurality of beams comprises a plurality of cantilever beams coupled to said plurality of connector brackets, respectively, and extending generally downwardly therefrom and a plurality of hip beams coupled to said plurality of brackets, respectively, and extending generally upwardly therefrom.
 25. The sunshade canopy system of claim 23, wherein said plurality of beams comprises a first plurality of beams comprising ends that converge to a first joint at a first position and a second plurality of beams that converge to a second joint at a second position, said plurality of beams further comprising a ridge beam extending between said first position and said second position.
 26. The sunshade canopy system of claim 22, wherein said plurality of connector brackets are permanently secured to said plurality of beams.
 27. The sunshade canopy system of claim 22, wherein each of said plurality of connector brackets comprises a vertical member for mounting on one of said plurality of vertical support columns and an angled member for coupling a plurality of said plurality of beams together such that said plurality of beams are situated at an angle relative to said plurality of vertical support columns when said plurality of connectors are mounted on said plurality of vertical support columns and said plurality of beams are secured thereto.
 28. The sunshade canopy system of claim 27, wherein said vertical member comprises a rod for receiving said ends.
 29. The sunshade canopy system of claim 28, wherein said rod comprises ends that are tubular and dimensioned to mate with and join two of said plurality of beams together.
 30. The sunshade canopy system of claim 22, wherein said plurality of beam comprise at least one cantilever beam and one hip beam; at least one of said plurality of connector brackets comprising a coupling for securing an end of said at least cantilever beam to an end of said at least at hip beam, said at least one of said plurality of connector brackets causing said at least one cantilever beam and said at least one cantilever beam to be subatantially coaxial and situated at an angle relative to said vertical support column to which said at least of said plurality connector bracket is mounted.
 31. The sunshade canopy system of claim 24, wherein said angle is about 22 degrees.
 32. A method for shading a play area defined by a plurality of vertical support columns having a platform coupled thereto and a plurality of play devices adjacent to said platform that cooperate to define a play area, comprising the steps of: situating a plurality of connector brackets onto said plurality of said vertical support columns, respectively; securing a plurality of beams to said plurality of beams to said plurality of connector brackets; and situating a canopy on said plurality of beams, said plurality of beams supporting said canopy at an angle and said canopy being angled and said canopy being dimensional to provide shade to and to some extent beyond said play area during sunshine.
 33. The method of claim 32 further including the steps of: providing a plurality of connector brackets, each comprising an angled member; securing said plurality of beams to said angled member, thereby causing said plurality of beams to become angled relative to said plurality of vertical support columns.
 34. The method of claim 33 further including the steps of: providing a plurality of beams comprising a plurality of cantilever beams and a plurality of hip beams; coupling first ends of said plurality of cantilever beams to said plurality of connector brackets; coupling first ends of said plurality of hip beams to said plurality of connector brackets.
 35. The method of claim 32 further including the steps of: permanently securing said plurality of connector brackets to said plurality of vertical support columns and said plurality of hip beams and said plurality of cantilever beams to said plurality of said connector brackets.
 36. The method of claim 32, wherein each of said plurality of connector brackets includes a vertical member for coupling to one of said vertical support columns and an angled member for coupling a plurality of said plurality of beams together, said method further including the step of: detachably mounting said vertical member onto one of said plurality of vertical support columns.
 37. The method of claim 36, wherein said vertical member comprises a rod for receiving said end of a first beam of said plurality of beams and an end of a second beam of said plurality of beams.
 38. The method of claim 38, wherein said rod comprises ends that are tubular and dimensioned to mate with an end of said first beam and an end of said second beam, thereby joining said first beam and said second beam together.
 39. The method of claim 37 including the step of: providing a cantilever beam and a hip beam as said second beam.
 40. The method of claim 38 including the step of: providing a cantilever beam as said first beam and a hip beam as said second beam.
 41. The method of claim 34 including the step of: at least one of said plurality of connector brackets comprising a coupling for securing an end of said at least one cantilever beam to an end of said at least one hip beam, said at least one of said plurality of connector brackets causing said at least one of said hip beam and said at least one cantilever beam to be substantially coaxial and situated at an angle relative to said vertical support column to which said at least one of said plurality of connector bracket is mounted.
 42. The method of claim 37 including the step of: at least one of said plurality of connector brackets comprising a coupling for securing an end of said at least one cantilever beam to an end of said at least one hip beam, said at least one of said plurality of connector brackets causing said at least one hip beam and said at least one cantilever beam to be substantially coaxial and situated at an angle relative to said vertical support column to which said at least one of said plurality of said plurality of connector brackets is mounted.
 43. The method of claim 38, wherein said first beam is a cantilever beam and said second beam is a hip beam.
 44. The method of claim 38, wherein said angle is about 22 degrees.
 45. A canopy support system for use as a children's playground shade cover having a plurality of vertical support columns, said canopy support system comprising: a plurality of connector brackets for mounting on said plurality of vertical support columns, respectively; each of said plurality of connector brackets comprising: a vertical member for mounting on one of said plurality of vertical support columns and an angled member for securing to at least one beam such that said beam is angled relative to the ground, said beam being dimensioned so that when said shade cover is situated thereon, said shade cover extends beyond said playground to a considerable extent.
 46. The canopy support system of claim 45, wherein each of said plurality of connector brackets comprises a vertical member for mounting on one of said plurality of vertical support columns and an angled member for coupling a plurality of beams together such that said plurality of beams are situated at an angle relative to said plurality of said vertical support columns when said plurality of connector brackets are mounted on said plurality vertical support columns and said plurality of beams are mounted thereon.
 47. The canopy support system of claim 46, wherein said vertical member comprises a rod for receiving said ends.
 48. The canopy support system of claim 47, wherein said rod comprises ends that are tubular and are dimensioned to mate with and join two of said plurality of beams together.
 49. The canopy system of claim 46, wherein said plurality of beams comprises at least one cantilever beam and at least one hip beam; at least one of said plurality of connectors brackets comprising a coupling for securing an end of said at least one cantilever beam to an end of said at least one hip beam, said at least one of said plurality of connector brackets causing said at least one hip beam and said at least one cantilever beam to be coaxial and situated at an angle relative to said vertical support column on which said at least one of said plurality of connector brackets is mounted.
 50. The canopy support system of claim 49, wherein said angle is about 22 degrees. 